May 13th, 2013 No Comments

this week’s color palette: blueberry blues

Blue is my favorite color, so I love experimenting with blues. I think I mentioned my whole beach house is in shades of blues, whites and gray, with my dining room and TV room painted in Benjamin Moore’s blue note 2129-30, which you can see in my kitchen palette post. Shades of blue from room to room or dark blues used for doors or molding trim can be very striking. Consider outdoor furniture in blue too, it can look crisp and clean with white or a shade of blue cushions and less harsh than black patio furniture. My painter taught … Read more

May 12th, 2013 No Comments

happy mother’s day

Last week I wrote about Bonnie Hoye and her beautiful illustrations. I suggested that a portrait would be a wonderful present. My father had this portrait done of my mother in Italy in the 1950’s as a gift to her. And even though we have so many ways of taking pictures and videos now, a portrait still seems so romantic and timeless. But having a photographer come and take professional photos of you and your family is a great idea too. They don’t have to be so formal, as you can see below by one of the photographs Philippe … Read more

May 10th, 2013 No Comments

potted shrimp…with an edible flower topper!

As you all probably know by now I’m a huge fan of my friend Peter Callahan‘s mini creations. I’m constantly amazed by his creativity. While scouring his book, Bite by Bite: 100 Stylish Little Plates You Can Make for Any Party, for some ideas for Memorial Day Weekend I came across his Potted Shrimp. The recipe is in his book- which I recommend getting if you already haven’t- but Peter also gives the tip that you could skip making the pastry pots and serve the shrimp in clean one inch flower pots. How divine!  Here is a good link … Read more

May 9th, 2013 No Comments

what would a yellow door say about you?

A yellow door is said to channel positive energy and foster your mental sharpness. Yellow represents joy, happiness, imagination and hope. This door shown above has a bit more orange to it and orange can denote creativity, enthusiasm and success.  Yellow attracts attention, so you may want to use a bright color like this if your door is hard to find or maybe you just want to be the house that is most noticed on your block. You can see what an impact yellow can have when it’s a solid door vs. the glass door with very little area of color, … Read more

May 8th, 2013 No Comments

weddings: floridian weddings has a lot of great ideas! (like this ‘lucky in love’ cocktail)

I recently came across the website floridianweddings.com. They are a great resource for venues and vendors in Florida, but also have plenty of real weddings and inspiration on their site for any bride or groom planning a wedding!   I loved this “Lucky In Love” cocktail that Co-Editor Laura McGlynn featured complete with the recipe. She also creatively made a downloadable/ printable sign to display (that you see below) if you choose to have this signature drink at your own wedding. How nice is that?  Having a signature drink at your wedding not only personalizes your wedding but it … Read more

May 7th, 2013 No Comments

mother’s day: simple settings and pleasures

Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday. Some of you will take Mom out to brunch, but those of you that are hosting Mom at home here are a few simple ideas for a casual spring table.  A whimsical approach is to set each place setting with a flower cone. (see below for a tip on how to keep the blooms fresh all afternoon) Orange juice fits right in our daffodil color palette, so have chilled champagne on hand for mimosas as your alcoholic beverage. To keep the table fun and casual use mini daffodils on the tops of yellow and … Read more

May 6th, 2013 No Comments

color palette: daffodil yellows & stem greens

The daffodils have been blooming here in New York for the past week or so. I brought these in from my garden and laid them on my counter… and this beautiful still- life was begging to be snapped. I love when this happens, it so rarely does, especially on photo shoots- where you lay something down and just the natural way that you put it down is stunning; You don’t want to touch it- you just want to capture the image with a photograph. I wish I was a better photographer but that’s something I’ll have to learn from some … Read more

May 3rd, 2013 2 Comments

meet bonnie hoye, an exceptional illustrator (an illustration could be one of the most unique mother’s day gifts!)

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, Sunday, May 12th. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have your Mom’s (or loved one’s) portrait done as a gift? I know I would love it or a portrait of me with my two daughters and I know just the artist to do it- the exceptional Bonnie Hoye. Now you don’t have to rush to have it done before Mother’s Day. You can always write a sweet note that you have commissioned her portrait and wrap up the note in a box with a bow. Then mom can work out with Bonnie a convenient … Read more

May 2nd, 2013 No Comments

we’re loving these binders for organizing anything from menus to warranties

As part of our spring cleaning we’re trying to organize everything, from the office to our personal lives. So in our quest we found a few great sites for organizing all that paperwork! We’re loving these binders, from Kikki-K.com (shown above and below). They have binders to keep your take-out menus in order, your pets information, your bills, your wedding plans to your manuals & warranties.  See Jane Work has organizing binders and files for everything from school work to taxes to coupons and notepads to keep your grocery shopping and kids homework assignments nice and tidy. Don’t see a … Read more

May 1st, 2013 No Comments

weddings: start with a color palette and let your invitation set the tone for your event

When planning your wedding I have found it makes the planning and decision process so much easier if you select a color palette first. This will automatically narrow down your selection process when you are faced with a million options. Consider the colors of your ceremony and reception site though when selecting your color palette. Remember, the first thing your guests will see is your invitation. So think of your celebration as a whole and start with the invitation to set the mood and tone. Then carry this style and color palette throughout your event and hopefully what seems overwhelming … Read more